I arrived here in 2003 and became a citizen in 2009.
As part of the citizenship test we were issued a government study guide to familiarize us with our new country. Among other things it included parts on its peoples, regions, symbols, economy and history.
Nowhere in that booklet was there any mention of the residential school system. Just checking on it now, there still is no mention of it.
I would hope that maybe the government might, as ugly as it is, see fit to add this significant part of its history to its guide for future newcomers to Canada so at least there is some awareness among them of the suffering imposed by this system. Like it or not and as ugly as it is, it is part of our history and something every newcomer to this country needs to be made aware of.
I'll echo the words of a good friend of mine from back home that I was talking to regarding this story who said I have increasing respect for indigenous groups and increasing realization about the bs we were fed about them in movies growing up.
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